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The Preeclampsia Foundation does not necessarily endorse any research or news found in this forum, we just want to share what is out there. Please use your own discretion to evaluate any information you find here.

Jenn, I am so sorry for the loss of your dear daughter. We're here to answer any questions you might have, and please feel to post as often as you like. You have been through a lot, please remember to be gentle with yourself. Take care.

Jenn, I'm so sorry you were so sick and that your baby died. You are very welcome here. The women in the Grief and Loss forum are especially wonderful if you need extra shoulders to lean on. You are right, "first baby" is the #1 risk factor.

thanks for the feedback. i was reading and just didn't understand. I had a very severe case of pe. I gained a whole bunch of weight in a very short period of time and had headached that would make me vomit, and very very high blood pressure.I actually lost my baby from a cord in the knot, and we are trying to figure out if because of what my body was going through is thats why she flipped and made a knot. After everything i have had every test there is i think and there is no reason why i got this besides it being my first baby.

Confession.... I did smoke throughout my pregnancy, of course once I delivered I was in the hospital recovering from the c-section and could not smoke there. I developed PE post partum and in fact almost lost my battle with the illness. I can relate to the fact that smokers that do develop PE may get it worse!!!

Jenn, welcome. Feel free to post in the "Ask the Experienced" forum - or any of the forums that fit for you! Just a short answer here - smoking is actually protective against PE - women who smoke get it less often. Smoking carries a whole bunch of other risks for the baby, though, so it's not exactly recommended.

I am new to this whole idea. I had pe with my first baby. Is this saying that smoking can lead to this disease. I did smoke before I knew I was having a baby. So is this saying that is why I got preclampsia? I just do not understand

This isn't exactly related to the thread per se, but I know there are related studies being conducted.

I know because when I went to the MFM on Monday he asked me if I'd like to join the study. My MFM is the principal investigator. They will be testing my urine and blood about 5 times during the pregnancy and at delivery. I know it won't help me, but if it can help other women to not have PE I'm all for it.

Some investigators are looking into the possibility that too much oxygen in the first trimester can cause PE later - the placenta is then normally a low O2 environment with the spiral arteries mostly plugged. CO replaces O2 in hemoglobin and is hard to get rid of - perhaps once it gets into the placenta it leaves very slowly and offers some protection in placentas where the spiral arteries are not sufficiently plugged?

CO also seems to protect against damage caused by re-oygenation after hypoxia - wondering if women who get PE tend to have bigger swings in BP to cause many re-oxygenation/hypoxia cycles.